Bruins Journal: Boston on Iginla’s radar

The Boston Bruins’ offense is in desperate need of a wake-up call and Calgary’s Jarome Iginla might be the answer to the problem.

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Journal Staff Reports
Posted Mar. 24, 2013 @ 7:51 pm

The Boston Bruins’ offense is in desperate need of a wake-up call and Calgary’s Jarome Iginla might be the answer to the problem.

Iginla, who has been the face of the Calgary Flames franchise for over a decade, agreed to waive his no-trade clause on Sunday. He informed the Flames that he would only accept a deal to four teams — the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.

Pittsburgh would seem to be out of the running for Iginla after the Penguins acquired veteran winger Brenden Morrow from the Dallas Stars on Sunday night. According to CSNNE.com, the Bruins offered 19-year-old Russian prospect Alex Khokhlachev and a second-round draft pick for the 34-year-old Morrow, who decided to join the first-place Penguins.

The Bruins can now turn their attention to Iginla, who is 35 and in the last year of three-year, $21-million deal. It is clear from Iginla’s wish list of teams that if he is going to leave Calgary then he wants to go to a contender for one final shot at a Stanley Cup.

Iginla won’t come cheap, however. So what would it cost the Bruins?

According to reports, Calgary general manager Jay Feaster would most likely want multiple NHL-ready prospects or players on current NHL rosters in return. The Flames are also in need of goaltending help.

Iginla is in his 16th season with Calgary. He is a six-time All-Star and two time Maurice Richard winner, an award given annually to NHL’s top goal-scorer. He has eight goals and 13 assists this season. In 1,217 career games, Iginla has 524 goals and 570 assists for 1,094 points.

The NHL trade deadline is April 3.

Whatever works

Claude Julien took the first step in trying to solve the team’s offensive woes as the head coach shook up his four lines during practice at the TD Garden on Sunday.

Brad Marchand replaced Milan Lucic on the first line and will skate with David Krejci and Nathan Horton. Daniel Paille was promoted to the second line along side Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. Lucic joins Rich Peverley and Jordan Caron on the third line. The fourth line will be Jay Pandolfo, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton.

When Julien was asked what prompted the shakeup, he replied, “Because I can. Because I’m the coach. And every once in a while you have to do those things. It’s as simple as that.”

The Bruins are 1-3 over their last four games and have scored just six goals. Boston will host Toronto on Monday at 7 p.m.

Spooner rejoins P-Bruins

Ryan Spooner, who was called up last week on an emergency basis due to Krejci’s knee injury, was returned to Providence on Sunday.

Spooner has appeared in four games with Boston this season and has recorded four shots on goal. He has 15 goals and 37 assists in 58 games with Providence this season.